Disclaimer: Don't own FF8

A/N: Wow, it's been a bit, I know. I've had this chapter brewing around. I'm not super happy with it but I didn't know how to make it better and get the story to where I want it to be. Blah...

Quick recap of the story: Mia, the former head of Trabia Garden appears at Balamb to warn the whole gang about a conspiracy to kidnap Rinoa. Turns out the man she has been spying on for years, Delegate Herzog, is planning on kidnapping Rinoa and killing her, transferring her powers to Mia in the hopes to take over the League of Nations (the governing body of all the countries that both Laguna and Caraway serve on).

Mia seems to be less than stable and it is revealed that she has a history of drug abuse stemming from losing her mother and then feeling betrayed by her father. Her father turns out to be none other than General Caraway, which is eventually told to Rinoa. The kidnapper is going by the code name "Brutus" in reference to Julius Caesar, implying that whoever is going to take Rinoa is someone close who is going to betray them. The group is in Deling to celebrate Caraway's Jubilee as General. The intel on the kidnapping says it is going to take place sometime before the celebration.

Meanwhile, Squall and Rinoa have hatched a plan that after foiling the kidnapping attempt they are going to disappear and take on new identities. They have found out that Cid has been secretly meeting with Dr. Odine, presumably having to do with Rinoa. Squall, realizing Garden is no longer safe for Rinoa is going to stage her being frozen in Esthar and they are going to run away after Caraway's Jubilee. Rinoa feels that as long as she is a Sorceress, she won't be safe. Squall decides that he wants to marry Rinoa before they have to change their names and has proposed to her, the gang already having planned a secret wedding...

Part VIII

"Tonight?" Rinoa wasn't about to question Squall's declaration and commitment, but the logistics were a problem, "But...how?"

Squall couldn't help but smile, "So... that's a yes?"

Rinoa launched herself into the arms of the man in front of her, causing him to stumble off the bed and turn his body as he stood with her in order to prevent both of them from falling, much like she had over two years ago on a train in Timber. Squall steadied Rinoa and nuzzled into the side of her face, kissing her jaw and inhaling deeply. Let me alway's remember this. "Come on, Rinoa, we have an appointment."

Rinoa pulled back from him and tilted her head, "Huh?"

Nice try Squall was not going to let 'cuteness' cause him to give up the entire plan. It was supposed to be a surprised. Instead he lead her to the doorway of the room and opened it where Zell was waiting for them.

"So..?" Zell was trying his best to not look like a cat that got the canary, but the huge grin across his face was obvious.

Rinoa squealed, "Yes!"

Squall rolled his eyes, "You say yes to him, but to me.. just a 'how'?" He teased.

Zell smirked, "Come on, Reverend Zell at your service. Everyone else is waiting at the spot."

Squall raised an eyebrow, "Reverend?"

Zell punched at an imaginary opponent in the air, "The internet, BABY!"

They made their way out of the mansion and were about to sneak through the streets of Deling when the sound of running footsteps stopped them. The unmistakable blur of Selphie zoomed up to them, breathless.

"You've... Seifer...says... gotta... not..." She huffed.

Squall narrowed his eyes, "Selphie, what is it?"

"SQUALL!" Seifer was standing 100 yards away with Mia and Quistis, "We need to hold them outside."

"We need to hold who?" Squall grabbed Selphie's shoulder.

Selphie had caught her breath, "At least...20 they look military trained"

So this is it. "Now?" Why now? Squall looked at Rinoa and then over towards his companions who were now running towards them. Mia had been right in warning them that the attack was going to come before Caraway's ball, however, none of them had expected it to be the same night they had already failed to take Rinoa from the mansion. They were not completely ready for this, but they were SeeD, thinking on the spot was part of the job description.

Squall met Rinoa's eyes. Her eyes were filled with the same fear she had before entering the Sorceress memorial. I won't let anyone hurt you, Rinoa. Squall hoped that Rinoa could feel his forced calmness in his mind. Rinoa nodded up at him and grabbed his hand giving it a squeeze. I need more than that. Squall leaned down and pulled Rinoa in for a sudden and passionate kiss, uncaring that he had an audience.

Pulling back from his wide-eyed fiancee, the Commander gave his orders, "Rinoa, go with Selphie, Quistis and Mia. Zell, Seifer and I will fight."

"But..." Rinoa started.

Squall shook his head, "No, too dangerous, the girls will protect you."

Mia spoke up, "I want to fight."

Squall shook his head, "No, Selphie and Quistis are good, but you know these people, I need you by Rinoa." I hope I don't regret this.

All people present except for Rinoa saluted at Squall. Seifer even saluted, much to Squall's surprise. Squall was still gripping Rinoa's hand and carefully fingered the ring Rinoa had just put on. Giving her hand a final squeeze, he reluctantly let go and drew his gunblade. Rinoa responded by leaning up and kissing his cheek, "Love you. Be safe." she whispered before running back into the darkness with Quistis, Selphie and Mia.

Squall looked over at Seifer, expecting some snide comment, but Seifer just nodded at him. Seifer appeared understand... Well, as understanding as he could look anyway.

Selphie whispered in the darkness towards her companions, "I don't think we should go to the mansion, right, Rinny? Not safe... Quisty? Mia?" Her voice sounded panicked. Probably because she had seen the sheer number of armed men coming their way.

Quistis nodded, "I agree. But we need to get high ground, indoors. You know the city: Rinoa, Mia, what do you think?"

Rinoa furrowed her brow, "Um.. the clock tower? Or the gate in the center of town?"

Quistis hmmed, "Both sound good...Mia?"

"Clock tower gives better view... let's go there." Mia caught up with them after pausing to light a cigarette. The other companions nodded in consent to the suggestion.

The girls made their way towards the clock tower in Deling, the same one where Irvine and Squall had waited long ago to assassinate Edea. The Clock Tower was a good choice, not only did it have high ground and a good view of the city, but also it only had two exits.

They snuck through the city for the most part unnoticed. Certainly no attacks at least. They continued their journey in silence. It wasn't until they entered the building that Quistis finally spoke, "It's too quiet."

Mia nodded, "I agree, Quisty. You think we were followed?"

"Maybe. Just be ready." Quistis readied her whip and scanned the darkness around them. Selphie adjusted her nunchaku. Rinoa felt naked as she didn't have a weapon with her, she was expecting to walk out of her father's mansion and getting married, not fight soldier's. She was silly to have been so optimistic.

Mia looked over at her sympathetically as she pulled her knife from it's sheath, "Your hands, Rin... best weapon you have, remember? Have status spells ready."

Rinoa nodded and steadied her nerves. They all stood like cats ready to pounce in the silent darkness, the sound of the clock ticking barely heard in the background.

"Rinoa..." Mia's voice next to her whispered.

Rinoa looked over at the girl and nodded in the darkness, Mia continued softly so as Quistis and Selphie wouldn't hear, "You're not Caesar."

"Huh?"

"Caesar... you know, Brutus is the kidnapper? You're not Caesar. Herzog is." Mia explained.

"I don't understand..." Rinoa blinked. If Herzog was Caesar, then who was Brutus... and what was she? Just a minor pawn in the play? Or...

Mia reached out and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly, "You have to trust me. This is the only way..."

There was a bright flash of light blinding everyone in the tower. Rinoa heard Selphie scream.

"SLEEP" It was Mia's voice.

Her vision slowly was coming to, but it was cloudy. Rinoa made out blobs, one of them was coming towards her. Before she could throw the status spell from her hands, Rinoa felt a sharp pain through her chest. The last thing she remembered was Mia's voice once again whispering "trust me..." before she slipped away, blood oozing from a knife wound in her chest and with it, her Sorceress powers.

Seifer smirked, "So, you and me on the same side, Puberty boy? This is gonna be fun."

Squall shrugged, "Under different circumstances, maybe."

"You know you love it," Seifer charged at an oncoming soldier, slicing him cleanly in two, "One point for me."

Another body was thrown in front of Squall, "Don't forget about me," Zell cracked his knuckles as a platoon charged them.

Within minutes the three men stood with bodies of dead and unconscious mercenaries at their feet. Non-SeeD mercenaries. They looked Galbadian for the most part.

Seifer shook his head, "Something isn't right. That was too easy."

Squall was about to say the same thing when he felt something. It was like someone had injected freezing cold water into his veins and it was spreading through his body. A moment later it felt like a shadow had passed through him, taking all of his life and strength away. At the same time he felt himself being sucked dry he felt an excruciating squeezing in his chest making it hard to breath. It only lasted 4 seconds, but it was enough to cause Squall to double to the ground, pale and clammy.

"Wha..."

Seifer was looking at him wide-eyed, "Shit."

Zell had crouched next to him, "Squall, were you hit or something, man?" He sounded worried.

I must look really bad if they are looking at me like I'm dying. Squall clenched his fist to the ground and took a deep breath, "Seifer..."

"The same thing happened with Ultimecia. When you defeated her... I felt it." Seifer offered a hand down to Squall, "You feel like a spirit just walked through you, right?"

Squall stared at Seifer's hand and pulled himself to a stand, "How did you.."

"Rinoa just lost her powers." Seifer said, turning in the direction the girls had run, "If I know Quisty, they headed for the clock tower."

"WHAT?" Squall cringed in discomfort, but adrenaline took over at Seifer's words. "Let's go!"

More soldiers had come from the other direction, about to impede their progress.

"Go!" Zell shouted, "Irvine and me can hold 'em off."

Squall nodded at his friend and Seifer and he tore down the street to the tower.

Please please please Squall was running faster than he ever had in his life, not caring that people were running from him in the street. Watching two men run through the street covered in blood with two giant gunblades was not a normal sight. When he got to the tower he knew something was wrong. He normally could feel Rinoa all the time, he felt something, but it wasn't her. Or if it was, something was seriously askew. Then he felt it, a huge surge of power that caused the building to shake slightly.

Squall turned around the corner and his heart sank. Selphie and Quistis were on the ground, unconscious but did not look injured. Rinoa was on the ground, a pool of blood underneath her, pale... dead. Please... Herzog was standing next to her body with a knife and the Chancellor was in the room as well, apparently trying to reason with Herzog.

And Mia... Mia was standing, she looked a foot taller, her hair was waving around her. It reminded him of Edea. There was no question in his mind, Mia was now the Sorceress. Her eyes glowed golden and she appeared to be fighting with herself.

"Sleep spell..." Seifer muttered after kneeling next to Quistis.

"NO!" Squall charged towards the center of the room towards Rinoa.

Mia didn't even look at him, but with a flick of her wrist sent Squall crashing into the wall across the room. Squall slid down the wall and got to one knee. He tried to get up but there was an imaginary force holding him in place. He would fight it.

"Insolent fool.." Mia murmured, her voice thick and heavy. Mia stepped around Rinoa's body to stand in front of Herzog, "Knight Squall, your services are no longer needed. Rinoa is not your Sorceress anymore."

Squall spat on the ground, "She's... your sister. I'm sure as hell not going to be... your knight."

Mia laughed, sounding unstable, "Please. I don't need you, I have a knight. As for my sister. I saved her. I relieved her from the burden of this power."

Squall shook his head, "Mia. You KILLED her," His voice sounded strangled in his ears. It sounded unfamiliar. This is a bad dream. "You...killed her."

Mia was standing right in front of Squall and Seifer, both of them paralyzed, "Did I? I didn't stab her. I. Saved. Rinoa. None of you could, but I did." She whipped around towards Delegate Herzog and smiled at him.

Herzog stepped over Rinoa's body, waddling towards Mia, "That's right, darling Mia. You didn't hurt dear sis at all. Now, more importantly." Herzog turned his attention back to the Chancellor, "Chancellor, I've decided that the League needs to go back to an autocratic rule. Don't you agree, Mia?"

"Yes." Mia's voice was returning to normal and Squall could feel the pressure holding him down start to release.

Herzog laughed again, "Excellent. Now, come with me, Mia. I am your dear Knight, after all."

Mia's head snapped up and her eyes flashed. Herzog's body was slammed across the room away from Rinoa. Mia formed ice spears in her hand and they zoomed towards Herzog, piercing through his shoulders and knees, holding him to the wall, "I said I agree, I didn't say I thought you should be in charge." She turned towards the Chancellor and stepped towards him as he offered her his arm. After taking his arm she turned towards Herzog again, "You stupid, stupid fat man, you killed my sister... do you really think I would support you? Or take you as a knight?"

The Chancellor laughed, suddenly no longer appearing to be a bumbling nervous fool, "Sorceress, I accept your endorsement." The man that had seemed as silly and unorganized as Laguna suddenly seemed as dangerous and powerful as Caraway, but multiplied by about 50. He had put on a very good show.

Mia released the Chancellor's arm and the spell holding Squall and Seifer was completely released. Squall tried to pull himself to his feet, but he was still dizzy. Mia walked up to Herzog's body that was hanging from the wall. She whipped her pin from her hair and held it to Herzog's neck. Herzog was sweating and there was a delicious fear in his eyes. Mia pressed the pin into his skin, causing a small hole, "I have waited so long... look at you. This is how it feels to be scared. Now who has the power, Herzog... and you gave it to me." She pulled the pin back from his neck, "But, death is too good for you... I'll let you rot in District D Prison. Do you know what they do to child molesters in prison? Oh, that is a fate far worse than death."

The Chancellor took Mia's arm again, "Come my dear, I have a speech to make. As for you, Herzog, you will be found guilty for the murder of Rinoa Heartilly, enjoy life in prison."

Squall's eyes widened as he found the strength to charge towards Mia. The Chancellor was behind it the whole time? He was going to take over the whole League with Mia at his side? He was about to bring his gunblade down when it clashed against metal with a loud sound. Green eyes glaring back at him.

"Seifer!" Squall hissed.

Mia smirked as she walked out of the room with the Chancellor. She paused at the door, looking back and for a moment, Squall thought that for a moment her eyes looked sad before madness took her again. Mia spoke, "Come, Knight."

Seifer pushed back against Squall, causing his body to stumble backwards next to Rinoa's corpse on the ground. Seifer followed Mia out of the room... A knight once again.

There was commotion downstairs and Squall could hear Seifer's voice saying to arrest Herzog upstairs for murder...

Murder...

In the flurry of activity and confusion he had almost forgotten Rinoa was... maybe because he didn't really want to believe it. He knew though, he couldn't feel her inside his head anymore. He used to think that not having Rinoa in his head anymore would be good, but it wasn't. It was horrible. He had never felt more alone in his life. I just want to hear your voice.

He gathered Rinoa's body in his arms, tears burning at his eyes. The ring on her finger... How could I have been too late. Open your eyes, please just say something. One of the tears fell and hit Rinoa on the cheek. Squall reached out to wipe it off of her, taking the time to trace her cheek. You're still warm...

His hand traced from her cheek to her neck and he felt something. On closer inspection he realized her body was glowing very faintly. A Regen spell? Mia? Then on Rinoa's neck he confirmed his suspicion. It was a pulse. Rinoa was alive.

Sometime later they were in Caraway's mansion. Rinoa was in bed, stabilized for the most part. The TV turned on unexpectedly and a broadcast appeared on the screen. The Chancellor of the League of Nations was speaking.

"Good evening everyone...

I come tonight with sad news. Delegate Herzog of Galbadia has committed treason and attempted to murder an 18 year old girl. He will be tried for his crimes in court. The girl in question was a Sorceress, and subsequently, she is no longer a threat.

Because of the dangerous instability of this world, I have decided to become Supreme Lord Chancellor, invoking Act B Part ii of the Treaty of Nations. I will act as single handed ruler of the nations to try to bring peace to this world.

Assisting me is the new Sorceress who will act as my council...

The screen flashed to Mia who was standing next to him, looking eerily like Edea had those years ago. Next to her stood Seifer, gunblade in hand.

Squall heard a strangled sob next to him, it was Quistis, "How... Seifer?"

Squall shook his head, "He said he was her knight."

"No... no he wouldn't betray us. Something else is going on. I mean, Rinoa is alive too, it's got to be part of a plan, right?" Quistis was trying desperately to believe the words coming out of her mouth. The last thing they needed was a power hungry man trying to take over the world with an unstable Sorceress.

Unstable Sorceress... except she had a Knight. Was that why Seifer had gone with her? To protect her from herself? Squall would be the last one to defend Seifer, but it certainly seemed like there was more to the story.

Squall looked down at Rinoa's sleeping form. She had briefly regained consciousness saying something about Mia casting Regen. So Mia had kept her alive... it didn't change the fact that she let her get stabbed in the first place. That and she had taken her powers. But wasn't that what they wanted? For Rinoa to be able to live a normal life? Would she still stay at Garden?

Casting aside the worry of their relationship Squall focused on the other thing plaguing his mind... yet another person trying to take over the world, it was only a matter of time before they got sucked into the war too. Chaos was about to erupt.

Quistis seemed to be reading his thoughts, "We can't let them do this, you know..."

Squall nodded, still looking down at Rinoa, pushing the hair out of her face, "I know."

Quistis stood and stepped out of the room, leaving Squall alone with Rinoa. Squall bent down and pressed his head against her chest, listening to the soft beating of her heart. I almost lost you, again. He would protect her now, even if she wasn't a Sorceress anymore, he would stay her Knight. Maybe she would still be willing to marry him even though the rush to leave was now eliminated.

We can stay...

Squall reflected on Mia's words. That Mia thought she had 'saved' Rinoa from the fate of being a Sorceress. Maybe it was true. But now, there was certainly nothing stopping Garden from its "true mission" of going after the Sorceress. Now their war would begin again. Mia had to know they would be coming after her. Then again, she had said this was her 'last mission'. Maybe she knew all along.

Squall focused on Rinoa's beating heart again and closed his eyes. Thank god... He had seen with Mia how easy it is for someone's mind to snap, and for a moment when he believed Rinoa to be dead, his almost had. If he did lose her, he had no doubt that he would become the SeeD that everyone feared he might become... the one Mia had become. Don't ever leave me, Rinoa.

Blah, don't like this chapter... ugh.

R&R